WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The top-seeded Washington & Jefferson women's lacrosse team used a strong defensive effort to claim a 13-5 victory over second-seeded Grove City College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship match at Alexandre Stadium Saturday afternoon.
W&J claimed its 11th straight victory to improve to 12-4 overall. The Presidents were 10-0 against conference opponents this spring. This is the second PAC title (2021) and fourth conference title overall during head coach
Alison Valerio's tenure. W&J claimed Ohio River Lacrosse Conference titles in 2016 and 2017. Grove City ends its first season of varsity lacrosse at 14-4 overall.
Just as they have throughout the current 11-game winning streak, the W&J defensive unit has had its way with the opposition. That script continued in Saturday's title tilt. The Presidents were able to limit two of the top scorers in the PAC, Brooke Stoltzfus and Madison Nazigan, to just two goals. The W&J defense forced the duo to commit seven turnovers.
Junior captain
Sam Casile (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) recorded six ground balls and four caused turnovers in the victory. Freshman standout
Ella Phillips (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) registered a game-high seven ground balls while adding four caused turnovers of her own. Junior defender
Gabby Galla (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) added four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
W&J jumped out to an early lead behind a pair of goals from
Emily Heck (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic). The Presidents secured the lead for good when
Amanda Effland (Frederick, Md./Frederick) scored off a pass from
Sofia Jenkins (Hughesville, Md./The Calverton School) at the 2:00 mark of the first quarter. The Presidents appeared to extend its lead to 4-2 late in the opening quarter. However, the officials waived off a fastbreak goal by
Sarah Labovitz (Great Falls, Va./The Bullis School).
W&J took control of the game in the second quarter. The Presidents used goals by Jenkins,
Clara Sherwood (Indiana, Pa./Indiana),
Becca Ghion (Sutersville, Pa./Yough) and another by Sherwood to build a 7-2 advantage heading into halftime.
The Presidents' lead reached seven (9-2) early in the third quarter when Sherwood tallied her third goal of the game. W&J would lead by at least six goals the rest of the way. A score by Effland late in the third made the score 11-4 W&J entering the fourth. Jenkins and
Aisa Uhler (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) each scored in the fourth quarter as W&J finished off its title victory.
After registering an eight-point performance in the semifinals, Jenkins capped a strong PAC Tournament with a four-point effort (two goals, two assists) in the final. Sherwood, Effland and Heck finished with three points each. Labovitz, Effland and Ghion were strong on the draw as the duo helped W&J win 15 of the 22 draws. Sophomore goalkeeper
Kaitlyn Brown (Charlotte Hall, Md./La Plata) made nine saves in the victory.
W&J held sizable advantages in shots (37-16), shots on goal (27-14), ground balls (36-22) and draw controls (15-7).
The Presidents receive the conference's automatic-qualifying bid to the Division III Championship. Thirty-two conferences have been granted automatic qualification (Pool A) for this year's championship. The 46-team field for this year's Division III Championship is scheduled to be announced Monday, May 9. First and second round games are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, May 14-15.
NOTES: Casile was named the PAC championship tournament's Most Outstanding Player after totaling 10 ground balls and seven caused turnovers in the two wins. Joining Casile on All-Tournament Team was Brown, Effland, Jenkins and Phillips.
